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Thank you for daring to listen.

Today's episode is a little bit different for the bodies behind the bus team. We are having a

conversation with my dear friend Leila. Layla is a first-generation Palestinian-American.

This conversation may or may not be full of content

that is challenging for some of us to listen to,

but we urge you to enter with curiosity

as Layla gives us the honor of learning more about her family and culture.

On October 7, 2023, the world sat glued to the news in horror as stories started trickling

out about the attack on Israeli civilians by Hamas.

We had mere hours to grieve and process the reports of Israeli death before we began to be

confronted with the deaths

of Palestinian civilians as Israel retaliated.

And some of us were introduced to the realities of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank

for the first time.

As I have been privileged to bear witness to Lela's grief and processing the past few weeks,

an idea sparked to have this conversation in front of all of you.

Through knowing Layla's story, my understanding, empathy, and passion for the Palestinian people

has grown and my heart has broken as I have watched the Western Church cheer for the end times

...